The Boy At the Back of the Class
Description
OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD IN THE UK ALONE!
TRANSLATED INTO 20+ LANGUAGES
WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD (UK) 2019
WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE (UK) 2019
WINNER OF THE SAKURA MEDAL (JAPAN) 2020
WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S COWBELL AWARD (SWITZERLAND) 2021
WINNER OF THE PRIX JANUSZ KORCZAK PRIZE (FRANCE) 2022
THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS STAGE PLAY NOMINATED FOR AN OLIVIER (UK) 2026
'There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He's a refugee who's run away from a War. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more I find out about him, the more I want to help ...
That's where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we've come up with a plan...'
On a perfectly ordinary school day, something extraordinary happens: a boy with pale skin, lion eyes and a tattered red rucksack walks in. Unable to speak English and seated at the back of the class, Ahmet 'the refugee kid' becomes the perfect target for bullies and rumours alike.
But Ahmet has also captured the attention and empathy of a fellow classmate, who will do anything to help him find his family. Even if that involves a plan - or five, and the Queen herself!
Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.
With beautiful illustrations by Pippa Curnick
*BEAUTIFUL GOLD FOIL ANNIVERSARY EDITION NOW AVAILABLE - FIND IT UNDER 'ALL FORMATS AND EDITIONS'*
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Onjali Q. Raúf (Author)
Onjali Q Raúf's first book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, was Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2019, the Blue Peter Book Prize 2019 and has recieved many other accolades.
Raúf's second book, The Star Outside My Window, went on to win the Diversity Book Award for Children's Fiction (UK) 2020.
Her further fiction titles include: The Night Bus Hero, The Lion Above the Door, The Letter with the Golden Stamp and The Game I Will Never Forget as well as the fairy tale collection Where Magic Grows, the non-fiction title Hope on the Horizon, and the picture book The Girl at the Front of the Class.
In 2022, Raúf was recognised for her services to Literature and Women's Rights in the New Year Honours.
Pippa Curnick (Illustrator)
Pippa Curnick grew up in rural Essex and studied at Camberwell College of Art. She graduated from the University of Derby with a First Class degree in illustration. Pippa's picture book Lucie Goose was shortlisted for the Evening Standard's Oscar's First Book Prize. Her website is www.pippacurnick.com and you can follow her on Insta @pippa_curnick and on Twitter @PippaCurnick
